Trial by jury for man accused of trafficking half a kilo of heroin

A road carpeted in heroin is expected to feature prominently in the trial by jury of a man who allegedly spread a half-kilo of the drug on the tarmac as he was about to be apprehended by police in 2007.

A jury, empanelled yesterday morning, will begin hearing evidence against Herman McKay, of Marsa, who is accused of trafficking over half a kilo of heroin.

McKay, 34, had been arrested in August 2007 in Triq is-Serkin, Marsa, after police were tipped off that he had been dealing drugs from his black Mercedes. Approaching the area, officers had spotted a group of youths who dispersed when they saw the police but were all later captured. McKay was among them.

When he was approached by the police, the accused had tried to get rid of his car keys; however, a police constable managed to get hold of them. When the key fob was pressed and the car remotely unlocked, McKay had rushed to the vehicle and retrieved a brown package from a compartment under the armrest, spreading its contents all over the road. Police had stopped him as he tried to do the same with another package.

Laboratory tests had confirmed the contents to be 538 grams of heroin of 23.1% purity, valued at €24,755.

But during the compilation of evidence, a court-appointed expert had established the man only had €1.50 and four horses to his name.

Mighty, Chilly Beast, Osay de Viette, Worg Xing and Marathon d’Isques were the horses owned by McKay, the expert had told the court.

McKay, who had been charged with several offences in the past and who had committed crimes during suspended sentences, was accused of trafficking heroin. The crime of heroin trafficking carries with it a possible life sentence.

Lawyers Elaine Mercieca and Justine Cilia from the Office of the Attorney General are leading the prosecution. Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri are defence counsel.

Judge Antonio Mizzi is presiding.